9 Incredible Walking Tours to Take This Fall

Walk your way through the wonders of the world.

Taking in incredible, scenery-filled landscapes up close has never been easier. With a customized walking tour with a reputable guide, you can scale mountains, meander through pristine woodlands, explore historic towns or enjoy a bird's-eye view of a resplendent sunset. From leisurely strolls to challenging hikes, walking tours cater to travelers of all ages and ability levels. Plus, on-land tours are conducted throughout the year at destinations worldwide. So grab a pair of comfortable shoes, some water and a bottle of sunscreen, and experience one of these incredible tours.

Mongolia

With: Nomadic Expeditions

Experience the road less traveled as you explore remote regions across Asia like the Altai Mountains in the west to Lake Khövsgöl in northern Mongolia to the Gobi Desert. The Adventure Trekking in the Altai Mountains journey offered with tour operator Nomadic Expeditions is especially well-suited for active types. This 11-day trip provides an unforgettable outdoor adventure, as guests trek through the magnificent Altai Mountains, one of the last untouched wilderness areas of Asia. Highlights of the trip include venturing through the foothills of Tsambagarav Mountain across glaciers, boulders and grassy hills, visiting Uuld and Kazakh families along with way, hiking down Bayangol Zuslan and finishing the tour at Had Uzuur Bridge.

Philipsburg, Montana

With: The Ranch at Rock Creek

Explore Montana's diverse ecosystem with a certified master naturalist on a private guided trek and sketching session. During this two-hour excursion, participants learn about wildlife tracking, migration, habitats, flora, fauna, geology and more. Each participant will receive a sketchbook and instruction on how to keep a naturalist's log. And at the end of every trek, you can enjoy sketching and journaling the subjects that inspired you along the expedition. The ranch's varied terrain creates an ideal environment for different types of animals, ranging from bighorn sheep to wolves to coyote. A bird-watcher's paradise, the ranch is home to bald and golden eagles, osprey, hawks, grouse and waterfowl.

Belize

With: San Ignacio Resort Hotel

Embark a bird-watching tour with experienced guides along San Ignacio Resort Hotel's expansive 17-acre private reserve. The natural surroundings showcase varied species of colorful birds, including the blue-gray tanager, blue-crowned motmot, aracari toucan and even rare sightings of Belize's national bird, the keel-billed toucan. Beyond admiring fascinating wildlife in a lush jungle, you'll explore medicinal plants and herbs that were utilized by the Mayans to cure a variety of conditions and pains, including stomach aches, chicken pox and allergies.

Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa

With: The Maboneng Township Arts Experience

Local artist Siphiwe Ngwenya, along with his wife, Palesa, are pioneering a new era of tourism in South Africa's townships. The Maboneng Township Arts Experience turns homes into galleries, allowing local artists to showcase their unique works. These organized home gallery tours afford visitors the opportunity to interact with local people on a cultural art tour and even attend arts workshops. The organization currently works with residents in Soweto (outside of Johannesburg) and Gugulethu (outside of Cape Town) to display local artwork and host visitors. You can book tours online or secure a walking tour experience through Airbnb.

Paris

With: Localers

Shop like a true Parisian in the 7th arrondissement with Localers' three-hour small-group Eiffel Tower Food Tour. On the tour, you can get an authentic taste of France, as you sample 10 different dishes, including cheese, chocolate and assorted pastries, while learning pro tricks for shopping in the City of Light's vibrant markets. Set against the iconic Eiffel Tower in the backdrop, the tour offers the perfect blend of inspiring architecture and scrumptious food. You'll be accompanied by a local expert as you sample varied regional specialties from different artisanal shops. Throughout the tour, your guide will point out the characteristics of France's distinct regions, as you sample delicacies such as foie gras and tapenade.

Quebec, Canada

With: Auberge Saint-Antoine

Explore the wonders of one of the oldest cities in North America with a guided historic walking tour at night. You'll begin the tour just steps away from the famed Auberge Saint-Antoine hotel and wander back in time along cobblestone streets, as you explore the historically rich neighborhoods of Quebec that have been well preserved for more than 400 years. Steeped in history, Quebec City celebrated its 400th birthday in 2008 and serves as the birthplace of New France. Today, Old Quebec -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- enchants visitors with its charming bistros, boutiques, cobbled squares and centuries-old buildings.

Bhutan

With: Gangtey Lodge

Tucked in the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan wows visitors with its striking natural surroundings and captivating temples. The remote Gangtey Lodge offers guided hikes and mountain bikes, so guests can explore the awe-inspiring landscapes in the Gangtey Valley before stealing away to one of 12 well-appointed guest rooms outfitted with a sofa, fireplace and spacious bathroom. Take your pick from a variety of trails well-suited for hiking and mountain bike riding; trails range from easy to strenuous and typically take two to six hours to complete.

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

With: The Bushcamp Company

The Bushcamp Company is a small collection of camps offering walking safari experiences unlike any other, with superlative wildlife-viewing (think: elephants, hippos and more) in South Luangwa National Park. The close proximity of the camps allows guests to walk through the bush to get from camp to camp. Walks range from two and a half to five hours. The bushcamps vary from traditional thatched-grass huts to stylish, spacious thatched chalets. What's more, each camp can accommodate up to eight guests, offering plenty of seclusion and an intimate atmosphere.

Zurich

With: The Dolder Grand

Looking for a brisk walking or running tour? You can partake in the ultimate outdoor experience at the Dolder Grand through the hotel's sight running experience. Guests staying at the hotel can book sight-running tours, which allow them to see Zurich and its surrounding area in a unique and active way. The small city tour is about 3.7 miles and goes through the golf course, the ZSG Zürichhorn Casino, the Chinese Garden and other notable landmarks. Runners and walkers who take the Adlisberg trail can expect to see Loorenkopf tower, along with peaceful fields. The tour is roughly 60 to 90 minutes long.

Roger Sands is an experienced travel writer with a passion for destinations that inform and inspire. His features on unique and exotic destinations have been published by the New York Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Taste & Travel Magazine, BELLA NYC and others. He develops Top Ten lists in order to offer practical advice to travelers who are seeking guides to exciting worldwide locations. You can find him on LinkedIn.